A prospective accountant placed under probation in April will now have to serve time behind bars after admitting to having stolen a car and breaching the earlier court order.

Andrew Depasquale, a 30-year old Naxxar resident, was arraigned on Monday over the aggravated theft of a Mazda Demio parked along Testaferrata Street, Ta’ Xbiex on July 31, just over three months since he had been placed under probation after promising to undergo rehabilitation for his drug dependency.

During a fresh arraignment this morning, the young man admitted to the theft of the vehicle, as well as to being a recidivist.

Duty magistrate Francesco Depasquale, upon the man’s guilty plea, handed down a six-month jail term for the theft of the car which had since been returned to its lawful owner. A further 12 months were handed down for the breach of probation, bringing up the total to a 18-month effective jail term.

“You have studied and have more to offer, I don’t want to see you like this,” the magistrate remarked, urging the accused to put in a greater effort to get his life back on track.

Inspector Bernardette Valletta prosecuted. Lawyer Noel Bianco was defence counsel.